In the News: 2010
Robinson to open 10 new stores by 2013
Bangkok - October 21, 2010
Robinson Department Store Plc will invest approximately 6 billion baht2 to open 10 new stores in the next three years.
President Preecha Ekkunagul said the company would invest about 2 billion baht per year over the next three years for store expansion, building about three or four stores a year. Robinson's target is to open 10 new stores nationwide by 2013, which will bring the total to 35.
Apart from the new stores, Robinson is also negotiating with the landlord of its Ratchadaphisek store to extend the lease set to expire at the end of April 2012. The negotiation is expected to be concluded in a few months.
"If it is successful, we will overhaul the Robinson Ratchadaphisek store, which has been operated for nearly 30 years, and convert it into a shopping mall with Robinson as an anchor," he said.
The company also plans to develop a new flagship store at the CentralPlaza Rama IX shopping complex in December next year. Its headquarters will be moved to this branch as well.
The CentralPlaza Rama IX store will be a model for future stores in Thailand.
Robinson has 23 branches across the country and plans to open the 24th branch in Trang on Nov 11. The store cost 650 million baht and features four zones: shopping, dining, entertainment and services.
Home to more than 200 tenant shops, Robinson Trang expects to attract about 10,000 visitors per day.
"We will use the stand-alone lifestyle centre format to penetrate subordinate provinces that have not been occupied by big shopping malls," he said, adding that two new Robinson lifestyle centres would be opened next year, excluding its store at Seacon in Bangkok in October and Rama IX Road in December.
"Our sales have grown by 16% this year, better than our earlier projection of 12%, thanks to the improving economy and strong marketing plans," Mr Preecha said.
Shares of Robinson (ROBINS) closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 22 baht, up 60 satang, in trade worth 53.53 million baht.